On 18 August 2025, the Supreme Court of India enhanced the alimony awarded to a wife from ₹15 lakh to ₹50 lakh as a one-time settlement. The Court held that the amount must balance the doctor-husband’s earning capacity with the wife’s need for long-term financial security.
The case was heard by Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta, who partly allowed the appeal on financial relief. While confirming the divorce decree on the ground of cruelty, the Court modified earlier rulings of the Family Court and the Karnataka High Court, which had fixed alimony at ₹15 lakh.
The couple married in 2009, but disputes soon led the husband to seek divorce in 2011 under Section 13(1)(a) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. The wife opposed and filed for restitution of conjugal rights under Section 23(1)(a). She was initially granted ₹10,000 per month as interim maintenance, later raised to ₹25,000 by the High Court.
In 2015, the Family Court dissolved the marriage and awarded the wife ₹15 lakh as permanent alimony. Both spouses challenged the decision in the High Court, but in 2022, the Court upheld the divorce and confirmed the ₹15 lakh amount.
Dissatisfied, the wife approached the Supreme Court, which sought detailed financial disclosures. It was revealed that the husband, a practicing doctor, earned about ₹1.4 lakh per month, while the wife, though unemployed, held M.Tech (Computer Science) and LL.B. degrees.
The Supreme Court stressed that alimony decisions must weigh several factors—the husband’s financial capacity, the wife’s qualifications, their past lifestyle, and the need for fairness. The bench observed that while the wife was capable of earning, the husband’s stable income allowed for higher support.
Accordingly, the Court enhanced alimony to ₹50 lakh, payable in five instalments of ₹10 lakh each between September 2025 and January 2026. This sum will be treated as a full and final settlement of all claims arising from the marriage.
By this ruling, the Supreme Court reaffirmed that alimony should be just, fair, and equitable—ensuring the dependent spouse’s dignity and financial stability without overburdening the earning partner.
Case Title: M.V. Leelavathi v. Dr. C.R. Swamy @ Dr. C.R. Kumara Swamy
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